The Supreme Court of Liberia has ruled in favor of the National Port Authority in a case involving a group under the banner “the Executive and Work Committee of the Consolidated Leave Employees and Beneficiaries of the ALICO pension fund” vs the NPA.

An opinion dated 4th July, 2018 under the signatures of the full bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia cites the lack of legal and factual merits in the case; adding that the informants suffered waiver and lases by waiting for fourteen years before attending to their alleged grievance rather than pursuing same when the supreme court handed down its opinion and judgement as prescribed by law in such case.

The thesis of the July 4th opinion in favor of the National Port Authority follows arguments and contentions advanced by the parties in the Hight Court’ s Chambers during the March term of court.

The informants had prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the 1998 opinion handed down by the Gloria Musu Scott full bench which discharged the National Port Authority from all liabilities of the ALICO funds.

The bill of information now dismissed by the full bench of the Supreme Court , was filed by and through counsellors Theophilus C. Gould and Fredie R. Taylor Jr, of Kemp and Associates legal consultancy claiming seven million United States Dollars.

But National Port Authority In–House Counsel Dexter Tiah Sr, argued that the Informants should have filed for reargument within three days after the opinion of the Gloria Musu Scott bench of 1998 which is by law.

The Respondent prayed the court to have the bill of information dismissed – arguing further that the bill of information was untimely and without legal or factual merits.

The Clerk of Court has therefore been ordered by the full bench to have the case stricken from the docket – stating that the costs have been adjusted against the informants

Meanwhile, a release from the National Port Authority quotes acting Managing Director CeliaCuffy –Brown as describing the Supreme Court’s judgment as a landmark legal victory for the Weah’s led government and a milestone accomplishment for the Port.

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Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists, and is currently contributing to the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation as Liberia Correspondent.